Is the 2022 NFL Draft QB Class the Worst in NFL History?

In the days leading to the 2022 NFL draft, a clear conundrum had appeared. No position is more valuable than quarterback, but the absence of a true standout shaped a hard question: Would any of these signal-callers actually develop into a franchise QB?

Only two years into their professional careers, the tenor of the conversation has changed in a negative way.

Today, the question is worse: Is this the worst QB class in NFL history?

After all, 2022's best prospects are barely hanging on. Kenny Pickett is a backup, Desmond Ridder and Bailey Zappe were roster cuts, Malik Willis was traded. At this point, Brock Purdy is the saving grace as the sole reason the class can avoid such an unceremonious label.

The story is not officially written. While late-career breakouts are rare, they—as Geno Smith recently showed—are possible.

But right now, the narrative of the 2022 cycle isn't a positive one.

The choices are a reflection of individual production and team results. Undrafted players are not included.

Forgettable 2013 Class

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Geno Smith

The single redeeming note of the 2013 cycle belongs to Geno Smith, whose stunning 2022 campaign was a terrific story.

Beyond that surge, the rest of his QB classmates—and a heavy majority of Smith's career—underwhelmed. The group included 11 draft picks, and nobody else is remembered in a very positive light.

Mike Glennon had a fine rookie year statistically, but he was generally unimpressive and went 6-25 as a starter. EJ Manuel didn't get a long leash with the Buffalo Bills and only registered 590 career attempts. Matt Barkley was a mess in his brief time leading the flailing Chicago Bears, and Landry Jones primarily served as a backup.

Thanks to Smith's AP Comeback Player of the Year breakout, the class is out of the "absolute worst" conversation.

Only barely, however.

Rough Start for 2022

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Brock Purdy

So, cool, not the worst QB class.

As mentioned earlier, that's simply because Brock Purdy has played well in two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He was a happy surprise as a third-string rookie in 2022 and excelled in 2023, leading the NFL in yards per attempt and finishing fourth in MVP voting.

Otherwise, it's a disaster.

Malik Willis struggled in three starts for the Tennessee Titans in 2022 and is now a backup with the Green Bay Packers. Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder and Sam Howell were all benched at some point during the 2023 campaign and traded in the ensuing offseason. Before the 2024 season, the New England Patriots cut Bailey Zappe.

Throw in third-round selection Matt Corral struggling to stick on a roster, and the frustrating list expands.

Because of injury woes, Skylar Thompson started a playoff game for the Miami Dolphins in 2022. That's a pretty ugly second-best achievement for the nine-man group.

The Thin 1996 Cycle

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Tony Banks

The major takeaway from the 1996 class is that Tony Banks, the best QB of the cycle, was benched on the Baltimore Ravens' path to a Super Bowl. Or, if not that, the St. Louis Rams secured the Lombardi Trophy the year after Banks last started for them—turning to Kurt Warner following an injury to Trent Green.

Yeah, this was a rough QB cycle.

Banks played in the NFL for a decade, starting 78 games with four organizations and surpassing 15,000 passing yards. He never opened a playoff game, though.

Third-round pick Bobby Hoying went 3-9-1 during his brief stay on the Eagles. At least fourth-rounder Danny Kanell had a positive touchdown/interception ratio, but he managed 24 career starts.

Jeff Lewis, who attempted 54 passes in 12 appearances as a backup, is the only other 1996er to play an NFL game.

Minimal Production from 1976

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Richard Todd

Within a 17-round draft that included 487 total selections, NFL teams picked 26 quarterbacks from the 1976 class.

Exactly one of them reached 1,200 passing yards as a pro.

A first-round pick of the New York Jets, Richard Todd put together a 10-year career. He went 48-59-1 as a starter with two playoff trips, leading the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in the 1982 season. For his career, Todd threw 124 touchdowns and 161 interceptions.

The class can claim Mike Kruczek, who replaced an injured Terry Bradshaw and posted a 6-0 record in 1976—as Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defense gave up a measly 4.2 points per game in his starts.

But that, really, is everything notable.

Russell, Quinn and 2007's Total Bust

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JaMarcus Russell

The first 43 picks of the 2007 draft featured five quarterbacks: first-rounders JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn with second-rounders Kevin Kolb, John Beck and Drew Stanton.

Unfortunately for that quintet and their franchises, that relationship never worked out as planned.

Russell is often labeled the biggest bust in NFL history, and Quinn certainly merits the label. They combined to start 45 games, both posted negative TD/INT ratios and quickly flamed out of the league.

Kolb had uninspiring stints with Philadelphia and the Arizona Cardinals. Beck failed to win a game in seven starts between the Miami Dolphins and Washington. Stanton endeared himself to Arizona fans but ended his career with 20 passing scores to 24 interceptions.

Two later selections, Trent Edwards and Tyler Thigpen, started at least one-half of a season. Wasn't great, as you can imagine.

Look, arguably the best highlight of these careers is Stanton celebrating a touchdown on a play he watched from the sideline. Harsh, for sure, but that's the reality of 2007.